Scotland’s Janice Moodie, trying to end a six-year victory drought on the US LPGA Tour, seized a one-shot lead at the Navistar LGPA Classic on Friday over world No.1 Lorena Ochoa.
Ochoa is trying to end a dry spell of her own. Although the Mexican star has the most wins on the US tour this year with six, the last of those was back in May, and she would like nothing better than to return to the winner’s circle here.
To that end, Ochoa nabbed seven birdies en route to a five-under 67 and a 12-under total of 134 in the US$1.4 million tournament.
PHOTO: AFP
Moodie, who started on the back nine, birdied five of her first nine holes on her way to a five-under 67 for 133.
Moodie’s last victory on the LPGA Tour came at the Asahi Ryokuken International Championship in 2002, but she said it was too soon to focus on ending that winless run.
Ochoa, who is playing in her first event since the Safeway Classic at the end of last month, started the day tied for sixth.
She, too, started on the back nine and came on strong after the turn with birdies at one and four. She capped her round with back-to-back birdies.
Ochoa, seeking her first title since winning the Sybase Classic in May, had made two bogeys and three birdies in her first nine holes.
American Jill McGill, part of a trio sharing the lead after the first round, fired a three-under 69 to join Ochoa on 134.
“It was a really consistent day,” McGill said. “My only hiccup was a bit of a misclub. It’s tough judging the wind on those elevated tees. I gave myself a lot of really good looks but wasn’t quite as confident with the putter today. All in all, I’ll take the three-under and head into tomorrow’s round.”
Michele Redman’s superb 65 put her in fourth at nine-under 135, while Kim Song-hee (68) and Christina Kim (66) were tied for fifth on 136.
Taiwanese athletes included Yani Tseng at 137, Teresa Lu at 138, Candie Kung at 141 and Amy Hung at 144.
■BRITISH MASTERS
AFP, SUTTON COLDFIELD,ENGLAND
Ryder Cup star Lee Westwood admitted he was “running on empty” but the Englishman still managed to shoot a second round 70 that gave him the clubhouse lead in the British Masters.
Having opened with a 68, defending champion Westwood moved to six under par to lead by one stroke Scotland’s Marc Warren and Spaniard Alejandro Canizares on a day when many of the field were unlikely to finish their rounds following a three-hour delay for fog.
Colin Montgomerie improved 12 strokes on his opening 81, but on six over was still looking at his seventh missed cut of the season.
Westwood and Graeme McDowell were the only members of last week’s beaten European Ryder Cup team to turn up for the even and McDowell looked fatigued as he shot a 75, to stand at three over.
Westwood mixed two birdies with three bogeys in his first five holes, but a hat-trick of birdies at the start of the front nine shot him up the leaderboard.
A new European Tour record was created when Jeev Milkha Singh made three holes-in-one in the day, following earlier aces by England’s Phillip Archer and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros.
The latter’s feat earned him a bottle of champagne — had he done it on Sunday he would have been driving away the Jaguar car on offer for the nearest to the pin.
■US PGA TOUR
AFP, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Anthony Kim retained the lead in the US PGA Tour Championship on Friday with Spain’s Sergio Garcia in hot pursuit.
Garcia posted the best round of the day with a five-under 65 for five-under 135. That left him two shots behind Kim, who posted 69 for 133 in the second round of the US$7 million tournament.
Phil Mickelson remained in contention with a 68 that left him three off the pace on 136.
Mickelson rallied after three bogeys in 10 holes, notching five birdies in the final seven holes.
Colombian Camilo Villegas carded a 66 to move into fourth place, five shots off the pace, with Canadian Mike Weir and South Korean KJ Choi another shot back.
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